An Enduring Tradition
By Sen. John Thune

In South Dakota, the holiday season begins on the third Saturday in October. The annual pheasant opener is an unofficial state holiday, and as with any holiday, the anticipation builds as the date approaches. As we dig out our blaze orange and chaps, clean the shotguns, and exchange stories about years past, we look forward to the hunt, the big meal afterward, and the gift of a fall day spent in South Dakota’s great outdoors.

Like many folks in our state, pheasant hunting is a tradition in the Thune family. My dad was born the year of the first official pheasant season in South Dakota, and he was never one to miss a hunting season, even into his late 90s. He taught my brothers and me how to bag a rooster, and ever since my first hunt when I was 12, I’ve looked forward to chasing pheasants every fall.

I’ve been blessed to share hunts with my dad, my siblings, and a number of good friends and fellow South Dakotans over the years, and it’s been especially meaningful to pass along this tradition to the next generation. I taught my daughters to hunt when they were growing up, and fortunately they married outdoorsmen, and now we’re sharing this tradition with my grandkids, who may even be better spotters than I am!

The annual pheasant hunt has been a fixture for a lot of families since it began over 100 years ago, and the population of birds and hunters keeps growing. A strong pheasant population isn’t just nature taking its course though. Our state’s famed pheasant hunting is thanks, in no small part, to the conservation efforts by farmers who support quality habitat for ringnecks in fields across South Dakota.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is not only the cornerstone of federal conservation programs, it also helps support our state’s pheasant population. CRP supports farmers who take environmentally sensitive land out of production, which helps maintain a strong habitat for pheasants. My bill, the CRP Flexibility and Improvement Act, would make this program a more effective option for producers, and I’m proud that it’s included in this year’s Senate farm bill because programs like CRP are an important part of ensuring South Dakota remains the Pheasant Capital of the World both now and for generations to come.

Pheasant hunting is part of our way of life in South Dakota, and I hope it always will be. I’d love to be able to be out in the field in my 90s like my dad, and I trust that pheasants – and pheasant hunters – will always find a home in the fields of South Dakota.

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Strong Rural America
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 9, 2026

BIG Update

Native American Day is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Native Americans in South Dakota. Our state is home to nine Tribal Nations, each with unique traditions, histories, and communities that are an important part of South Dakota’s story. I’ve worked to build strong relationships with our tribal communities and am proud of the open communication and conversations I’ve had with tribal leaders. Their guidance has helped shape my work in Congress, and I’m honored to have been recognized as the most effective member of Congress for tribal relations. I look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen our communities.

BIG Idea

Clean, accessible water is essential to a vibrant and healthy rural America. I joined Rep. Brad Finstad from Minnesota for a roundtable discussion on federal programs that support rural water access. We heard from local community leaders about the impact the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) water programs can have in rural communities. For many communities, these programs help make critical water infrastructure projects possible and ensure families and businesses have access to reliable water. The Farm Bill authorizes additional investments in rural water projects, underscoring the need to get this legislation across the finish line and continue supporting rural communities.

Johnson and Finstad discuss rural water needs

BIG News

Emergency medical services (EMS) provide life-saving care and emergency response across South Dakota. In rural areas of our state, timely access to care and qualified EMS professionals are crucial. The Rural Health Transformation Program recently awarded South Dakota $7.2 million to support ambulance-based telemedicine and improve emergency communications. This investment will strengthen emergency response and the long-term stability of emergency services in South Dakota, helping ensure care is available when people need it most. The funding will bolster our health care workforce, modernize dispatch communication technology, expand access to telemedicine, and support quality improvement efforts. These investments will help EMS providers deliver faster, more coordinated care and better serve South Dakotans, especially in rural communities.

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Flags at Half-Staff at State Capitol in Honor of Elmer Bietz

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in honor of former state legislator Elmer Bietz. He served in the South Dakota Senate from 1983 to 1992.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am CT on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at First American Lutheran Church in Tripp, SD.

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From the Unified Judicial System, the charges against State Senator Mark Lapka are on-line. And it seems like they could be worse:

At this point, it appears he’s been charged with DUI and failure to stop after an accident.   Well, at least failure to stop on his own. That cottonwood tree seemed to be doing a pretty good job of stopping the combine for him.

This is a good entry for Friday Humor.

In response to State Senator Mark Lapka’s arrest for an alleged DUI. Which took place while driving an alleged combine into an alleged tree, State Representative Travis Ismay, from his personal facebook account, tells the story of why only certain legislators end up all over the news for being arrested for stupid:

Oooooohhhh…  so only the real republicans get caught for doing stupid stuff. Got it.

 

Here is the video that’s floating around out there allegedly in connection with the arrest of South Dakota State Senator Mark Lapka for driving under the influence, as reported by the Dakota Scout:

From the Dakota Scout, it appears that State Senator Mark Lapka is being accused of drunk farming after driving his combine into signs and a tree:

Was chatting with a candidate the other day, and they’d asked if I had been sent a copy of the Minnehaha County GOP candidate survey.

What? Yes, they actually appear to have sent out a “Candidate Platform Questionnaire,” demanding their answers on a various number of topics. All I could think was “who came up with the goofy b.s.?” Because it would seem they’re looking for an excuse – as the Minnehaha County Republican Party to not support Republican candidates:

Candidate Platform Questionnaire
Minnehaha County Republican Party
Please begin each response with a direct statement of your position, followed by an explanation of no more than 150 words. Clearly identify any exceptions or circumstances that could affect how you would vote.

1. Parental Rights and Local Control of Education
Do you believe parents should have the primary authority over their children’s education, including curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, and school accommodations? Please explain where you believe the authority of parents, local school boards, and the state government should begin and end.

2. Property Rights
Under what circumstances, if any, should government be permitted to take private property through eminent domain or restrict an owner’s use of their property? Please explain how you would vote on legislation involving eminent domain for private economic-development, and describe the due-process protections you believe property owners must receive.

3. Sanctity of Human Life
When do you believe human life begins, and what responsibility does government have to protect unborn children, the elderly, the elderly, and people with disabilities? Please state any exceptions you support concerning abortion or assisted suicide and explain how you would vote on legislation addressing those issues.

4. Lower Taxes and Limited Government Spending
Under what circumstances, if any, would you vote to increase a tax, fee or government spending ?
Explain how you would control government spending, prioritize essential government functions, and eliminate unnecessary spending.

5. Traditional Family Policies
What responsibility, if any, should state government have in promoting marriage, family stability and the rights and responsibilities of parents ? Please explain any policies you would support or oppose concerning marriage, parental authority, and the protection of children.

6. Election of Constitutional Officers
Would you support or oppose legislation to move the nominations of Attorney General and Secretary of State from the convention to the June primary ?
Please provide your reason(s) for supporting or opposing such legislation.

7. Constitutional Amendments
What are your thoughts on Amendment L which would require any proposed constitutional change to achieve a 60% support level from the voters in the general election ?

8. 4th amendment and Right to Privacy
Do you support or oppose the use of taxpayer money to install and maintain Automatic License Plate Reading equipment (aka “Flock cameras”)?
Please provide your reasons for supporting or opposing these cameraa.

SDGOP Platform (for reference)
https://www.sdgop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-2024-South-Dakota-Republican-Party-Platform.pdf

I like how they can’t even manage to reference the current platform from 2026.

The point is that once again, there are those self-anointed self-important people in the GOP who are demanding purity tests to see if the candidates still hold their virgini….   er, if they are sufficiently virtuous and Republican enough to be deserving of the party’s support.   The thing is – THE PARTY’S JOB IS NOT TO APPLY PURITY TESTS. It is get Republicans elected. Period.  It’s like someone decided to form an HOA or Condominium Board for Republicans. Because they don’t want people with different views to call themselves Republican. Heaven forbid.  They often quote Reagan and say that the person who agrees with you 80% of the time is not your enemy. But how quickly that’s forgotten once they get in a room.

Why do I think that the same people are the ones who are howling when people express they won’t be supporting election conspiracist Heather Baxter to become the next Secretary of State.  They want people to blindly support the Republican ticket, but at the same time they’re looking for excuses to not support them.   Of course, this is the same Republican party group represented on the State Party’s Executive Board by Tom Pischke, who is going on trial for election fraud.  So you’ll have to pardon me if I don’t think that their purity test makes the grade.

The signs of light in Minnehaha County for Republican voters?

There are thoughtful people in the GOP down there. I was taping Dakota Town hall yesterday, and held out Taylor Rehfeldt and Ryan Budmayr who formed the Republican Roundtable, which meets monthly. They bring like-minded Republicans together for common goals and to network with community leaders. They’re there to get things done. Which is a breath of fresh air.

No judgement or purity tests required.

**Update**

I just heard from another candidate. Lincoln County GOP is doing the survey thing too.

It sounds like Independent candidate Neal Tapio did not want to answer questions at a local debate that he’d already agreed to participate in:

From the Story:

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD — District 5 House candidate Neal Tapio announced Tuesday, about two hours before the event, that he will not participate in tonight’s legislative debate hosted by the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, saying the selection of the event’s moderator compromises the forum’s fairness.

Tapio, a 2021 Watertown Businessman of the Year and former State Senator, said his decision stems from concerns about moderator Lee Schoenbeck’s neutrality, a longtime state legislator and political figure.

and..

Tapio also criticized the Chamber’s selection process, saying Schoenbeck’s role as moderator…

“is a stain on the reputation of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce and is unfair for the voters of Watertown.”

Tapio, who is running as an Independent, said his decision reflects broader concerns about political leadership and party dynamics.

“I am a lifelong Republican who believes strongly in hard work, sacrifice, merit, faith and family,” Tapio said. “The very reason I am running as an Independent is because too many in the Republican (and Democrat) Party leadership are not guided by ethical behavior and a simple belief in right and wrong.”

Read it here.

Basically, he’s the only politician in the world who meets the standards in his head, so that’s why he’s running as an independent, and can’t handle questions posed to him that everyone else at the podium is going to answer.

This is the same person who, last time he ran, started yelling at faith leaders, and said he’d get elected to Congress if terrorists attacked America.

If he was elected, would he run away and leave the Capitol anytime someone disagrees with him?  (We had one of those already, and we got rid of him.)

Neal, if you can’t stand the heat, don’t try to push your way into the kitchen.

From ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising platform.. apparently someone didn’t get the memo. Because they’re certainly under the impression that Brian Bengs is a Democrat in sheep’s clothing:

“We need your help to elect Brian Bengs and flip South Dakota, re-elect Catherine Cortez Masto and keep Nevada blue, and build a historic Democratic Senate Majority.”

I’d like to hear that explanation next time Bengs tries to claim he’s not running as a Democrat. (Or is he going to snap his fingers in someone’s face when they ask that?)